CHAPTER 1 Exploring Data 1.3 Describing Quantitative Data with Numbers

Describing Quantitative Data with Numbers CALCULATE measures of center (mean, median). CALCULATE and INTERPRET measures of spread (range, IQR, standard deviation). CHOOSE the most appropriate measure of center and spread in a given setting. IDENTIFY outliers using the 1.5 × IQR rule. MAKE and INTERPRET boxplots of quantitative data. USE appropriate graphs and numerical summaries to compare distributions of quantitative variables.

Identifying Outliers In addition to serving as a measure of spread, the interquartile range (IQR) is used as part of a rule of thumb for identifying outliers. The 1.5 x IQR Rule for Outliers Call an observation an outlier if it falls more than 1.5 x IQR above the third quartile or below the first quartile. In the New York travel time data, we found Q1=15 minutes, Q3=42.5 minutes, and IQR=27.5 minutes. For these data, 1.5 x IQR = 1.5(27.5) = 41.25 Q1 - 1.5 x IQR = 15 – 41.25 = -26.25 Q3+ 1.5 x IQR = 42.5 + 41.25 = 83.75 Any travel time shorter than -26.25 minutes or longer than 83.75 minutes is considered an outlier. 0 5 1 005555 2 0005 3 00 4 005 5 6 005 7 8 5

Measuring Spread: The Standard Deviation The most common measure of spread looks at how far each observation is from the mean. This measure is called the standard deviation. Consider the following data on the number of pets owned by a group of 9 children. Calculate the mean. Calculate each deviation. deviation = observation – mean deviation: 1 - 5 = - 4 deviation: 8 - 5 = 3 = 5

Measuring Spread: The Standard Deviation xi (xi-mean) (xi-mean)2 1 1 - 5 = -4 (-4)2 = 16 3 3 - 5 = -2 (-2)2 = 4 4 4 - 5 = -1 (-1)2 = 1 5 5 - 5 = 0 (0)2 = 0 7 7 - 5 = 2 (2)2 = 4 8 8 - 5 = 3 (3)2 = 9 9 9 - 5 = 4 (4)2 = 16 Sum=? 3) Square each deviation. 4) Find the “average” squared deviation. Calculate the sum of the squared deviations divided by (n-1)…this is called the variance. 5) Calculate the square root of the variance…this is the standard deviation. “average” squared deviation = 52/(9-1) = 6.5 This is the variance. Standard deviation = square root of variance =

Measuring Spread: The Standard Deviation The standard deviation sx measures the average distance of the observations from their mean. It is calculated by finding an average of the squared distances and then taking the square root. The average squared distance is called the variance.

Choosing Measures of Center and Spread We now have a choice between two descriptions for center and spread Mean and Standard Deviation Median and Interquartile Range Choosing Measures of Center and Spread The median and IQR are usually better than the mean and standard deviation for describing a skewed distribution or a distribution with outliers. Use mean and standard deviation only for reasonably symmetric distributions that don’t have outliers. NOTE: Numerical summaries do not fully describe the shape of a distribution. ALWAYS PLOT YOUR DATA!

Organizing a Statistical Problem As you learn more about statistics, you will be asked to solve more complex problems. Here is a four-step process you can follow: To help you remember this 4-step process, remember that: Statistics Problems Demand Consistency! How to Organize a Statistical Problem: A Four-Step Process State: What’s the question that you’re trying to answer? Plan: How will you go about answering the question? What statistical techniques does this problem call for? Do: Make graphs and carry out needed calculations. Conclude: Give your conclusion in the setting of the real-world problem.

Data Analysis: Making Sense of Data CALCULATE measures of center (mean, median). CALCULATE and INTERPRET measures of spread (range, IQR, standard deviation). CHOOSE the most appropriate measure of center and spread in a given setting. IDENTIFY outliers using the 1.5 × IQR rule. MAKE and INTERPRET boxplots of quantitative data. USE appropriate graphs and numerical summaries to compare distributions of quantitative variables.